Support boards for holding decorative corsages and garters

ABSTRACT

A sturdy, lightweight support board for attaching an arrangement of flowers, ribbons, bells, lights, trinkets, and stuffed animals, for wearing on special occasions. The board has parallel slots for inserting and securing elastic, which can be pinned onto the front of clothing. An optional second set of parallel slots provides an additional attachment point for large arrangements. A longer piece of elastic can be inserted into the parallel slots, forming a loop for allowing the arrangement to be “worn” on a wearer&#39;s arm. A pair of holes on the upper edge of the support board are used for inserting the ends of a ribbon for hanging the arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a support board forholding flowers and decorative materials, and for holding means forwearing the support board.

[0002] On special occasions, women and men have often chosen to pinflowers on their clothing, as corsages and boutonnieres. While astraight pin might hold a single rose, it would not be adequate to holdthe increasingly elaborate corsages, called “mums”, that womencustomarily wear for homecoming and other celebrations. In addition,since narrow lapels are unable to support homecoming floralarrangements, men have taken to wearing them attached to decorativegarters, worn around the upper arm (and called “garters”). In bothinstances, a typical arrangement no longer uses only a chrysanthemum,pipe cleaners, and a few ribbons. Instead, one, two, or three silkchrysanthemums are arranged with numerous charms, trinkets, bells,ribbons, streamers, twinkling lights, and even small stuffed animals.

[0003] Presently, the only support structures available are pieces offlimsy cardboard. To provide means of “wearing” the arrangement, aribbon is typically glued or stapled onto the cardboard, and then pinnedonto the front of a woman's dress. Similarly, for a man, a decorativegarter is glued or stapled to the back of the cardboard holding thearrangement.

[0004] Needless to say, the cardboard provides little support for thearrangement and is subject to bending and tearing. Stapling the ribbonor garter can be unattractive and ineffective. The pins used to attachthe ribbon to a dress may be visible and may allow the arrangement toswing too freely or to become unbalanced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The problem and disadvantages of the prior art are overcome bythe present invention, which provides a strong, yet lightweight supportboard for attaching an arrangement of flowers, ribbons, charms,trinkets, bells, lights, and stuffed animals. Each support board isshaped according to the size and shape of the arrangement it will hold.Pairs of horizontal parallel slots are cut through the support board. Ashort piece of elastic is threaded through a pair of the slots andsecured. The elastic is then pinned to the front of the wearer's dress.A second set of parallel slots can be provided for an additionalattachment point to provide security and balance for a largearrangement. Alternatively, a long piece of ruffled elastic is threadedthrough the pair of vertical slots and secured, forming a loop forwearing the arrangement as a “garter”. A pair of holes are cut throughthe support board along the upper edge for threading the ends of aribbon for hanging the “mum” or “garter”.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide sturdy, yetlightweight, support for elaborate floral arrangements.

[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide asupport which cannot be torn or bent under the weight of thearrangement.

[0008] A still further object of the present invention is to provide asupport which allows the creation of a balanced, secure, and durablefloral arrangement.

[0009] It is also an object of the present invention to proved a supportboard which can be simple to construct in a variety of shapes and sizes,depending on the floral arrangement it will hold.

[0010] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide asupport which can be easily attached to clothing without damaging it.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a supportwith slots for threading attachment means, and holes for threadinghanging means.

[0012] Other advantages of the present invention will be understood fromthe following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are front elevational views of the support boardsused for holding decorative corsages (or “mums”).

[0014]FIGS. 4 and 5 are front elevational views of the support boardsused for holding decorative “garters”.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the front side of a support boardset on a flat surface (not shown), with the elastic and the hangingribbon in place.

[0016]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the back side of a support boardset on a flat surface (not shown), with the elastic and hanging ribbonin place.

[0017]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the back side of a support boardset on a flat surface (not shown), with the elasticized garter and thehanging ribbon in place.

[0018]FIG. 9 is a back elevational view of the support board holding adecorative corsage.

[0019]FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the decorative corsage heldby the support board.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] In FIGS. 1 through 5, different shapes and sizes of the supportboard of the present invention are shown. The support boards, 1, 2, 3,4, 5 are made from foam board, which has a foam core with heavy paperbacking on both surfaces (generally {fraction (1/16)} to ¼ inch thick).Foam board is lightweight, yet sturdy enough to hold elaborate “mums”and “garters”. The foam board can be cut into various shapes and sizes,such as the circular shapes in FIGS. 1 and 4, the oval shapes in FIGS. 2and 5, and the heart shape in FIG. 5.

[0021] The circular support board I in FIG. 1 is used to hold a single“mum”. The support board 1 is approximately 5 to 6 inches in diameter,with a pair of horizontal slots 10, 11, each approximately 1 to 1½inches long, spaced parallel to each other, ½ to 1 inch apart. The slots10, 11 are used for holding a piece of elastic (not shown). Two smallholes 12, 13, spaced 2 to 2½ inches apart along the upper edge of thesupport board 1, are used for holding the ends of a hanging ribbon (notshown). Both the slots 10, 11 and the holes 12, 13 can be formed by adie cutter, or stamping process.

[0022] The oval support board 2 in FIG. 2 is used to hold a double“mum”. Typically, two silk chrysanthemums are the main features of thearrangement. The support board 2 is approximately 5 to 6 inches wide and8 to 10 inches long, with two pairs of horizontal slots 20, 21, and 22,23, each approximately 1 to 1½ inches long, each of the slots spacedparallel to each other, ½ to 1 inch apart, each set of two spacedapproximately 3 to 4 inches apart. Each pair of slots 20, 21 and 22, 23is used for holding a piece of elastic (not shown). Two small holes 24,25, spaced 2 to 3 inches apart along the upper edge of the support board2, are used for holding the ends of a hanging ribbon (not shown).

[0023] The heart-shaped support board 3 in FIG. 3 is used to hold atriple “mum”. Typically, three silk chrysanthemums form the basis of thetriangular arrangement. The support board 3 is approximately 8 to 10inches across, with two pairs of horizontal slots 30, 31 and 32, 33,each approximately 1 to 1½ inch long, each of the slots spaced parallelto each other, ½ to 1 inch apart, each set of two approximately 3 to 4inches apart. Each pair of slots 30, 31 and 32, 33 is used for holding apiece of elastic (not shown). Two small holes 34, 35, spaced 2 to 3inches apart along the upper edge of the support board 3, are used forholding the ends of a hanging ribbon (not shown).

[0024] The circular support board 4 in FIG. 4 is used for a “garter”displaying a single chrysanthemum (or stuffed animal). The support board4 is approximately 5 to 6 inches in diameter, with a pair of verticalslots 40, 41, each approximately 1 to 1½ inches long, spaced parallel toeach other, ½ to 1 inch apart. The slots 40, 41 are used for holding theends of an elasticized ruffled garter (not shown). Two small holes 42,43, spaced 2 to 2½ inches apart along the upper edge of the supportboard 4, are used for holding the ends of a hanging ribbon (not shown).

[0025] The oval support board 5 in FIG. 5 is used to hold a double “mum”for a “garter”. The support board 5 is approximately 5 to 6 inches wideand 8 to 10 inches long, with a pair of vertical slots 50, 51, eachapproximately 1 to 1½ inches long, spaced parallel to each other, ½ to 1inch apart. The slots 50, 51 are used for holding the ends of anelasticized ruffled garter (not shown). Two small holes 52, 53, spaced 2to 3 inches apart along the upper edge of the support board 5, are usedfor holding the ends of a hanging ribbon (not shown).

[0026]FIG. 6 shows the front side 1 a of a support board 1, with meansfor attaching the support board 1 to a wearer, and means for hanging ordisplaying it. A short piece of elastic 60 has been threaded throughhorizontal slots 10, 11 and its ends secured together at attachmentpoint 61. The ends 62 a, 62 b of a hanging ribbon 62 have been insertedthrough holes 12, 13, and tied together to form knot 63. Alternatively,each end 62 a, 62 b of the hanging ribbon 62 can be knotted separately,glued, or otherwise attached to the support board 1 on side 1 a.Typically, the “mum” arrangement will be attached to the front side 1 aof the support board 1.

[0027]FIG. 7 shows the back side 1 b of the support board 1 shown inFIG. 6. The short piece of elastic 60 protrudes through horizontal slots10, 11. It can be pinned onto a wearer's dress using a safety pin. Thehanging ribbon 62 extends from holes 12, 13. It can be used for carryingthe “mum” and for hanging it on a nail in order to display it.Alternatively, for a very large arrangement, the hanging ribbon 62 canbe hung around the wearer's neck.

[0028]FIG. 8 shows the back side 4 b of a support board 4, with meansfor attaching the support board to a wearer, and means for having ordisplaying it. The ends of an elasticized garter 70 have been threadedthrough vertical slots 40, 41 and secured on the front side 4 a (notshown) of the support board 4. The garter 70 can be pulled over thewearers upper arm to display the arrangement. A hanging ribbon 71extends from holes 42, 43.

[0029]FIG. 9 shows the back side 2 b of a support board 2 holding adouble “mum”. The back of a fancy ribbon 80 encircling the support board2 can be seen. Two short pieces of elastic 81, 82 protrude throughhorizontal slots 20, 21 and 22, 23. The larger arrangement can bebalanced and secured to a wearer's dress by using a safety pin with eachpiece of elastic 81, 82. The hanging ribbon 83 can be used to carry ordisplay the arrangement.

[0030]FIG. 10 shows a completed double “mum” floral arrangement 90. Thedouble “mum” completely obscures the front side 2 a of the support board2 to which it is attached. The hanging ribbon 91 can be used to carry ordisplay the arrangement 90. The finished “mum” 90 can be quite large—upto nine inches wide, and two to four feet high, including streamers 92.

I claim:
 1. A support for a decorative arrangement comprising: a flatbody having a circular perimeter and further having a pair of parallelslots, each slot having two sides and two ends; a short length ofelastic having two ends, each of the ends being inserted through one ofthe slots, both ends then being secured to each other.
 2. The support ofclaim 1 wherein the flat body further has a pair of spaced-apart holesdisposed between the perimeter of the body and one side of one of theslots, and which further comprises: a length of ribbon having two ends,each of the ends being inserted through one of the pairs of holes andformed into a knot.
 3. The support of claim 1 wherein the flat body ismade from foam board.
 4. A support for a decorative arrangementcomprising: a flat body having a perimeter and further having two pairsof parallel slots, each slot having two sides and two ends, the pairs ofslots disposed with the first ends of the first pair of slots alignedwith the second ends of the second pair of slots; two short lengths ofelastic, each length of elastic having two ends, each of the ends beinginserted through one of the slots in each pair, both ends then beingsecured to each other.
 5. The support of claim 4 wherein the flat bodyfurther has a pair of spaced-apart holes disposed between the perimeterof the body and the first side of one of the slots of each pair, andwhich further comprises: a length of ribbon having two ends, each of theends being inserted through one of the pairs of holes and formed into aknot.
 6. The support of claim 4 wherein the perimeter of the body has ashape selected from oblong and heart-shaped.
 7. The support of claim 4wherein the flat body is made from foam board.
 8. A support for adecorative arrangement comprising: a flat body having a perimeter andtwo surfaces, and further having a pair of parallel slots, each slothaving two sides and two ends; an elongated length of elastic having twoends, each of the ends being inserted through one of the slots, bothends then being secured to each other on one surface of the body,leaving an open loop of elastic on the second surface of the body. 9.The support of claim 8 wherein the flat body further has a pair ofspaced-apart holes disposed between the perimeter of the body and thefirst end of each of the slots, and which further comprises: a length ofribbon having two ends, each of the ends being inserted through one ofthe pairs of holes and formed into a knot.
 10. The support of claim 8wherein the perimeter of the body has a shape selected from circular andoblong.
 11. The support of claim 8 wherein the flat body is made fromfoam board.